10/27/14

On November 1, we will be holding the 20th "Teach North Korean Refugees Project" session. The project launched in March 2013 when Casey Lartigue Jr. and Lee Eunkoo matched 5 North Korean refugees who were teachers in North Korea with 5 English speaking volunteers. The refugees wanted to improve their English in order to improve their chances to become teachers in South Korea. We met at a Toz in Gangnam, matching them.

We have directly matched at least 117 NK refugees and 8 South Koreans who assist NK refugees with 164 English speaking volunteers. We have since hosted numerous sessions with a number of themes matching NK refugees with volunteer English speakers:

* Staff at NGOs helping NK refugees (to help refugees working at NGOs and also helping NGOs build up their capacity)
* special summer or winter study sessions (for students who have more free time during the break, look for another session in late December and early to mid January 2015)
* Bring or recommend a friend (so many refugees recommend there friends, so we have held two sessions focused on them).
* Refugee ladies on TV cable show
* Open sessions
* Newcomers or beginning speakers (we had two ladies who just gotten out of Hanawon 3 weeks before that join our session)
* Rematching sessions (for refugees who lost their teachers for one reason or another)

We have two main tracks:

1) For self-improvement. Some want to study for standardized tests, business English, writing, pronunciation, travel. Most of our time is spent on them because they are 90 percent of the refugees who enter our project. Most of them have no desire to become advocates, many are low-profile and just want to improve themselves to make themselves more competitive in this world.

2) to become advocates. We have had a few refugees who also had potential to become advocates for NK human rights.

10/21/14

I should expect it, but I occasionally get blind-sided in political
discussions: A critic will bring up my race.

I'm not saying that race is always irrelevant, but I reject it as a
legitimate point in discussions about economic policy or North Korea. In most
cases, the people who bring up my race in non-racial discussions are
progressives (and usually white, although some blacks join in).

It first happened to me in print back in the 1990s when a columnist wrote a
three-part series denouncing me as a sellout in response to a commentary I
wrote about excessive government spending.

Based on my interactions, self-identified libertarians and conservatives will
typically ask: "What was said?" Self-identified liberals and
progressives will typically ask: "Who said it?"

That is, who is the speaker? Who supports her? Is there a
corporation/foundation/chaebol in his background? The dancer's background
gets more analyzed than the actual dance.

I rarely got such attacks when I was a college student engaged in numerous
activities. I was a member of American Indians at Harvard, The Black Students
Association, TheObjectivistClub of Harvard, the
Society of Black Professional Entrepreneurs at the Harvard Law School, the ''Harvard
Crimson," Harvard Democrats, and Harvard Republicans. I was a regular at
debates, discussions and regularly audited classes all six years I was at
Harvard.

I left Harvard, but Harvard hasn't left me. I enjoyed going across different
groups and ideologies, learning, but not choosing a side, label or political
party. To this day, I rarely vote, sign petitions, or affiliate with a
political party or politician.

I didn't realize it then, but to liberals and progressives, I had permanently
chosen the wrong side once I joined the Cato Institute.

It didn't matter, for example, that I was one of the key players helping to
create a school voucher program for 1,700 low-income children in Washington,
D.C. A leading progressive talk-show host dismissed me as ''working against
the interests of black people." I got calls from sympathetic and
disgruntled school system employees warning me that public school advocates
were investigating me and had launched a campaign to find ''dirt" on me.

I ignored the "what's your ‘-ism'" attacks and continued focusing
on increasing educational freedom for low-income children, collaborating with
Democrats in Congress, a Democrat governor, and the Democrat Mayor of D.C. (I
was the substitute speaker for Mayor Williams at a community event, the first
and probably last time anyone from Cato will do that).

The only "-ism" that matters to me is metabolism. Political labels
are like shortcuts: They can get you to your destination quickly, true, but
they can also take you in the wrong direction.

I recently passed my 10th anniversary of not working at the Cato Institute,
but progressives still attack me like I was the institute's founder. Or they
respond with their "heads-I-win, tails-you-lose" argument by
dismissing me as a paid flunkey.

Other organizations I have worked for and been affiliated with ― Fight For
Children, the Washington Scholarship Fund, the Frederick Douglass Memorial
and Historical Association ― don't matter to the critics because I allegedly
committed the original sin. In short: Whose side are you on? Who supports
you?

I recently had a critic challenge me for quoting 19th century abolitionist
Frederick Douglass' comment: ''I would unite with anybody to do right and
with nobody to do wrong" in my defense of NGOs.

I first read Frederick Douglass' three autobiographies when I was about 10
years old. As a teenager in Texas, I saved enough money to buy First Editions
of his books published in 1845, 1855, and 1881 and was persistent enough to
convince my parents to drive me to Douglass' former home in Washington, D.C.

I couldn't express my feelings when I was invited in 2003 to give the keynote
address at the Frederick Douglass home in 2003 and later was invited to join
the Board of Trustees of the Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical
Association. Despite that history and connection, I get challenged by
progressives and ideologues when I quote Douglass.

I used to engage them, but now I keep on keeping on. When critics target my
race in non-racial discussions, I will just note that on my birth certificate
issued by the state of Texas that my parents were both listed as
''Negroid."

People try to nail a political label onto me, and I move on. When people
guess I may be as young as 30 years of age (Haha!), I tell them they are
correct no matter which age they guess. I prefer to be an Ambiguous Man
judged by my actions rather than arbitrary characteristics. That is even
though my critics blinded by rage keep blindsiding me by bringing up my race
in non-racial discussions, engaging in ''follow-the-money" games, or
trying to nail a label on me.

10/15/14

(Malaysia) Yangtze Cruise and Tours Sdn Bhd president Tan Han Soong said contrary to many reports on North Korea, the country had much to offer.

“North Korea is a good place to travel and it’s near China, so there are more opportunities. There is no AIDS, no theft and no beggars, and the people are educated. Pyongyang is really beautiful, with many high-rise buildings. In August and September last year, more than 1,000 people (from Malaysia) travelled to North Korea and the feedback has been very good."http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2009%2F3%2F9%2Fcentral%2F3434899
(Hat tip to Kelvin Hew﻿)

UN COI findings about North Korea
“These crimes against humanity entail extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation,” the report says, adding that “Crimes against humanity are ongoing in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea because the policies, institutions and patterns of impunity that lie at their heart remain in place.”http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14255&LangID=E#sthash.576GbXvF.dpuf

Yeonmi Park, a young woman who fled North Korea after seeing friends and family tortured and killed, tells her harrowing story

10/1/14

Every Sunday, a group of volunteers go to Yeouj to teach and mentor some children who escaped from North Korea. You are invited to join us. To do this, please send A) copy of your resume or a bio with the B) Application that we can share with the founder of the school before you help out.

BACKGROUND

Q: What is the Mulmangcho School?

A: It is a small alternative school for young refugees from North Korea. It was opened in September 2012 by Prof. Park Sun-Young.

Q: What does "Mulmangcho" mean?

A: It means "forget-me-not." Prof. Park says she wants to remind people that we should not forget about North Korean refugees after they have successfully escaped.

TEACHING

Q: I'm a first-timer. I have no idea what I should prepare.

A:First-timers are not expected to lead a class. It would be great if you could prepare a game or activity that can last 15 to 30 minutes. There are usually at least two or three veteran teachers to lead the class or classes, so you might want to join the Facebook group so you can monitor messages during the week and get to know some of the regulars.

DIRECTIONS:

Q: Yeoju?

A: Getting there:

FROM SEOUL TO YEOJU

Part 1: arrive at the bus station and buy a ticket.

Easy explanation: Go to the old bus terminal (where the Express Bus Terminal subway station meets at subway lines 3, 7 and 9), buy a ticket to Yeoju, go to Platform 23 to catch the bus. Check here for step by step directions.

Take the escalator or walk upstairs. When you get upstairs, you will see Dunkin Donuts immediately. The easiest way is to turn left, walk for about 15 seconds, then take the escalator up.

From there, turn left, walk about another 15 seconds, you will see another Dunkin Donuts. You can (A) wait there for us or (B) walk past the Dunkin Donuts, turn right and walk out the doors. Walk straight, you will walk through a new set of doors, walk straight until you get to the ticket window.

For first-timers sure they will get lost: After you exit from the subway, then contact me. I can meet you at the Dunkin Donuts that is at the top of the stairs. And if I happen to be out the week you are going, then I will make sure there is someone else there to meet you.

Part 2: Get on the bus

After buying the ticket, your next challenge is to get Platform 23, that's where the bus goes to Yeoju.

I don't want to complicate things, but FYI, there is more than one window to buy a ticket. The key is to buy a ticket going to Yeoju, and to get to Platform 23, that's where the bus waves good-bye to Seoul.

Part 3: Arrive at Yeoju bus terminal

The bus ride takes about an hour and 10 minutes, to arrive around 10:30. From the Yeoju bus terminal, wait for the ride to take you to the school to start teaching around 11.

Part 4: Returning

We typically return to the Yeoju bus station to catch the 1:20 bus, returning to Seoul by 2:30.

PHOTO POLICY

Q: Wonderful. I can't wait to go there to take a million photos and then post the names of the kids all over the Internet.

A: Whoa, slow down! They are fine with taking photos. But never, ever, ever mention the names of the kids. Some of the young adults have gotten on Facebook, but I still advise caution. Even if someone else happens to mention the name, don't use that as an excuse for you to do so. As I'm sure your mom told you: If everyone else jumped in a river (or off a mountain), would you do the same thing?

WHAT TO EXPECT

Q: Okay, I'm in. What do I do next?

A: Sign up

Sign up and send a message to cjl@post.harvard.edu to confirm your interest. Please take your RSVP seriously--the van comfortably fits 7, so if you flake out, it could mean that a non-flake could have joined to help out.

Q: Great, the more I hear, the more I love it. This will be a great a chance for me to conduct interviews for my thesis.

A: Ah...please remember to keep the focus on the students and helping them improve their English.

Some of them come from broken homes, some are orphans, some have relatives still trapped in North Korea or other circumstances.

DRESS CODE

Q: What's the dress code?

A: It is Sunday morning, so we understand that not everyone is ready for a fashion show.

My suggestion: Dress the way your mom would dress you. If that is business casual or business clown, that's fine. During the summer, some teachers wear shorts. In my case, I prefer a tuxedo and top hat, but that's just me.

Be aware: The International Adviser to the school is not photogenic, but he still likes to take a group photo each week.

In summary: There is no dress code, we will almost always allow you to teach, although I may give your mom a call...

RESUME

Q: Why do you need my resume?

A: It is required of all first-timers. Nothing personal, we have them on hand when the founder of the school asks. A standard resume is fine. If you want to update, it is nice to know about interests or skills of volunteers.

Q: Do I need to give you a local phone number?

A: If you have one, yes. If you have a local phone number, then put that one on your resume. Not an overseas phone number...

Teach for North Korean Refugees based at the Mulmangcho Research Center in Bangbae-dong holds regular sessions matching North Korean refugees with English-speaking volunteers. Below are some common questions (with my sometimes uncommon answers):

MATCHING SESSIONS

Q: What is "Teach for North Korean Refugees?"

A: I’m glad you asked! This is a wonderful volunteer project that gives North Korean refugees a chance to improve their English and volunteers the opportunity to help them while also doing something good.

Q: What is a typical matching session like?

A: Scroll down below this FAQ for some photos and a video.

Typically, volunteers and refugees introduce themselves, explaining what they want to get out of the project. Everyone should explain mention when and where are the most convenient times and places to study. Teachers introduce themselves first, then refugees. They they match. After that, we go out for dinner.

Q: How will the organizers match the refugees and volunteers?

A: We don’t! We allow the North Korean refugees to select their tutors. We have found that they are more committed to the program when they make the selections themselves. The goal is to allow tutors and refugees to make the best matches possible.

Q: What's the dress code?

A: Dress so your mother wouldn't be embarrassed. We don't enforce a dress code, but obviously, this is an important event in the lives of our North Korean refugee friends, so try to have some pride as you are getting dressed in the morning.

Q: When will the session be finished?

A: Depending on when most people arrive, how many refugees and tutors, how long everyone talks, if it seems that everyone is familiar with the expectations and has read the FAQ...typically the sessions last between 70 to 100 minutes. You are welcome to leave at any time, and we can inform you later if any refugees chose you. We typically go out to eat together after the session.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Q: What are the qualifications of the tutors?

A: We are not as rigorous as some of the other programs out there, we admit it. You should be a fluent or high-level English speaker. It also helps if you shower regularly, brush your teeth, your appearance doesn’t scare small children, etc. But if you have been seeking an English teacher for yourself, then you probably wouldn't qualify and probably won't be selected by a student.

Q: This sounds great. How do I apply?

A: 1) Make sure you have read all of the FAQs above and below! 2) Fill out a TNKR Teacher Volunteer Application here: http://goo.gl/forms/tWzTw6Ci1D 3) We can only take so many volunteers per matching session so look for a confirmation email from TNKR.Secretary@gmail.com, if you are confirmed you will be asked to reply with a resume. 4) Join the Facebook group for updates, join the particular Facebook Event page for the matching session you plan to join, and friend me! 5) The day before your session, look for and reply to a confirmation email from TNKR.Secretary@gmail.comwe just want to make sure you didn't forget!

Unsolicited advice about resumes (submitting here and other places):

* You might want to put your first and last name in the subject. I have received many creative resume titles, such as, "Resume." Or "Resume 2014." When those resumes get downloaded, it isn't very easy to distinguish one from the other. If you are applying for a job, with 10 out of 50 resumes with the title "Resume," you can imagine that you could easily get lost in the shuffle.

* I'm happy when people have me in mind, it always boosts my ego, but I have received many resumes with the subject line "For Casey" or "Casey."

* I know that people want to protect their cell phone numbers, but a resume with your phone number in Texas is not very useful in case I actually need to call you or add you to Kakao. Not that I would ever do such a thing. My colleague Eunkoo goes through the resumes and deletes your personal info before we pass it on to the refugees.

Only those invited are allowed to attend. Uninvited or unapproved friends will be considered to be gate-crashers and will be asked to leave.

Teach for North Korean Refugees--Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/451294051613839/

You are welcome but not required to send in supporting materials (videos of you teaching, teaching materials, syllabus) to make your case to the refugees. Please don’t ask me what you should send, that is up to you! Just think about the question: What would I like to present about myself that would make the refugees want to select me as a tutor? Then do that.

CURRICULUM/TEACHING

Q: How long do I gotta teach?

A: We ask for 1) a 3 month commitment 2) meet at least twice a month 3) meet for at least one hour at each session 4) avoid socializing for the first three months.

Q: What if I want to do a language exchange with the student who selects me?

A: If you want that then please find a different program! This is intended to help North Korean refugees improve their English. If you are a fluent Korean speaker or are trying to learn Korean, that is also excellent. But this program is not the time for you to use Korean except in extreme situations or with a refugee who needs such language help. Please, remember not to let it become a Korean-language discussion, that will defeat the purpose of this program.

Q: What is the minimum level of Korean fluency?

A: None is required. It depends on the North Korean refugees. Some of them want tutors who are bilingual, some of them want English-immersion. Because we encourage them to select more than one tutor, some choose both bilinguals and English-only teachers.

Also…we do stay in touch with the refugees. They may humor you by talking with you in Korean, but they may quietly complain to us about teachers speaking to them in Korean.

Q: Can we study using Skype?

A: Certainly. But we do require that you attend a matching session if we don’t already know you. We also suggest alternating between face-to-face and Skype sessions.

Q: What if I just want to have conversation, not teach TOEIC, TOEFL, or grammar?

A: Communicate that. We have some higher level speakers who don’t want to study grammar, but want conversation and to be corrected. Some want to study grammar intensively. Others want to study for a particular test or major. A key thing about this program is communication. That’s how we get good matches—from both sides communicating.

Q: What if I want to teach something specific that you haven’t mentioned?

A: Please let us know that when you apply! We can communicate that to the refugees in advance. But if you wait to surprise us at the matching session, by saying that you want to teach about 19th French literature, then I can’t promise that anyone will be interested in that.

COMMITMENT

Q: What if I can’t commit to three months?

A: Then communicate that to us. There are some refugees who are delighted to meet more people, to study as often as possible, so just let us know. We won’t try to block you, we will leave it up to you, but please be kind enough to give the refugees accurate information so they can make the best possible decision. If you are going to be leaving in a month, but can only teach once…well, don’t waste our time. But if you are going to leave in a month, and can meet with the refugee twice a month during that time, then communicate that, you may have refugees fighting over who can get you.

Q: How many refugees may I teach?

A: As many as your schedule and energy level can handle. And it depends on how many refugees select you. If you are someone with a free schedule, then communicate that.

LOGISTICS

Q: Where do we hold these study sessions?

A: That is up to you and your student! Some people meet at coffee shops, some at study centers, others come up with other arrangements.

Q: What if I don't live in Seoul?

A: It is fine, even if you are coming from Jupiter, as long as you can get to Seoul at least twice a month. You may be able to work out Skype sessions with your student, but at least in the beginning, we expect face-to-face sessions.

RETENTION

Q: What if my student keeps canceling?

A: Let us know. It is possible to switch matches, to find new ones, or to find a solution to the problem. Remember, the goal is to have good matches.

Q: What if my student wants to quit?

A: Don’t let them quit easily. Some need extra encouragement. The dream of a private tutor bumps up against the reality of actually improving their English. If you notice problems, communicate with us. There is no shame in having to switch students or making a change.

Q: What do the directors do?

A: They recruit and organize, and think about this more than anyone, including the refugees.

Q: What do the Academic Advisers do?

A: They keep tabs on every group we match. It is important for tutors to send them short reports about every session. This is not to monitor or punish—it helps keep us connected, a better understanding of the needs of everyone, and will let us know if there is a problem that must resolved.

A: Then ask Casey about the Mulmangcho program. He can talk all day and night about it, and he usually does so until someone cuts him off.

WAITING LIST

Q: I signed up, but there's a waiting list. May I join the session anyway?

A: No. You will be considered gate-crasher. The focus is on the teachers and tutors in the session. And use your brain. Get together a group of your friends, contact us, propose one or two different days and times, and we may be able to collaborate on a session.

CURIOSITY

Many teachers are really curious to learn about the refugees, but we suggest that in most cases, it really isn't relevant to you teaching them English. Of course, if you have a refugee who is high level and has a chance to give speeches, yes, the refugee needs to talk about their own stories. But if you are teaching a refugee the alphabet, then there is no reason to get into curiosity questions about their lives.

NON-TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Q: What if I want to use this as a research project, recruit students for my documentary, or engage in other activities that have nothing to do with English teaching?

A: Propose it! We may be able to work it out. We have some talented teachers, some of them have agendas other than teaching. Let us know. But there is no reason for you to keep the secret from us. For the three month commitment when you start, focusing on English teaching.

HOW TO GET KICKED OUT OF THE PROGRAM

1) Teach in Korean without informing us of the need and with the agreement of the student in advance.

2) Don't submit reports about your classes.

MISC.

Q: Can I get a certificate for teaching in this program?

A: If you give us constant updates, stay in touch with us, and we get feedback from your students, then yes, we can give you a certificate or a letter of recommendation. But think about it: If you never contact us, how can we endorse you or even know if you were meeting?

A final note: The NK refugees that we are introducing to you are some of our friends, recommended to us, or acquaintances in some way. Based on experience, it seems that the teachers realize what a special thing this is and treat them with the care that we expect. If you are just curious about meeting North Korean refugees, looking to have some stories to tell back home, or looking for something exotic to put on your resume, then this project is not for you. We want people who will take this seriously and do their best to help the North Korean refugees improve their English.